Headlight



T. W. POST.

HEADLIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12, 19] 7.

Patented May 16, 1922.

TRUMAN W. POST, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO WILLYS CORPO- RATION, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

HEADLIGHT.

Specification of letters Patent.

Application filed September 12, 1917. Serial No. 190,974;

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, TRUMAN W. Posr, a cltlzen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Headlights, of which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to headlights and more particularly to automobile headlights of the type provided with a tilting reflector whereby the beam of light from the headlight may be deflected downwardly upon the ground in front ofthe vehicle, in order to revent objectionable glare. r n object of this invention is to provide an improved headlight construction of such a nature that the parabolic shape of the tilting reflector will be maintained. A fur ther object of my invention is to provide simple and convenient means for mounting the reflector within the casing so that it will swing on a horizontal axis. A still further object of my invention is to provide a head light construction, having a tilting reflector, in which spring-mounted bearings are provided for the reflector trunnions so as to eliminate rattle and objectionable noise due to vibration of the headlight.

Further objects, and objects relating to economics of manufacture and details of construction, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow:

I accomplish the objects of my invention in one instance by the devices and means described in the following specificatiombut it is evident that the same may be varied widely without departing from the scope of the invention as pointed out in the appended claims.

A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention-is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is a vertical, sectional view, taken through a headlight embodying my invention, the reflector being shown by dotted lines in its tilted position in which the beam of light is deflected downw upon the ground.

Figure II is a vertical, sectional view, taken substantially on the line II-II of Figure I, portions of the reflector adjacent the forward edge thereof, being shown in rdly ' section in order to illustrate the manner in which the reflector trunnions are mounted, an

v Figure III is an enlarged, fragmentary, detail, sectional view, taken substantially on the line IIIIII of Figure II and showing one of the reflector-trunnions and its bearing. 3,

In the drawings, similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views and the sectional'views are taken looking in the direction of the arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Considering the numbered parts of the drawing, I have shown a headlight comprising a casing 10, aring 11 secured to the forward end of said casing, and a lens 12 carried by said ring andclosing the open front end of the headlight casing. A reflector 13 of the parabolic type is provided, which reflector carries a socket 141;, having a light'bulb 15 so mounted that the filament is located substantially at the focus of the reflector. A connector 16 is carried by the rear of the headlight casing and connected by wires 17 with the socket 1 1. The forward'edge ofthe reflector is rolled around a wire 18, forming a bead 19 at the forward edge of the reflector. This insures the for ward edge of the reflector remaining truly circular so that the true parabolic shape of the reflectoris always maintained.

At diametrically opposite polnts a pin 20 is inserted through the bead 19 and the wire 18 and secured thereto in any suitable manner, these pins forming trunnions for the reflector. At diametrically opposite points a spring strip or arm 22 is secured to the I casing'lO by rivets 21. and. these spring strips ,o arms carry, in their free ends, bushings 23 in which the reflector trunnions may be journaled. These spring strips carrying the trunnion bushings are preferably located at diametrically opposite points on the casing, such that the reflector is journaled on a horizontal axis. It is evident that parts of the pivoting means may be carried by the casing and coacting parts thereof carried by the reflector as may be desired, the spring support 22 serving in all cases to absorb vibra tions incident to a rapidly moving vehicle.

A clip 24 embraces'the rear end of the socket 14 between the reflector 13 and the casing 10 and said clip is connected to a wire 25 which extends downwardly through the casing 10 and the sleeve 26 projecting through the casing 10 and through a boss 27 secured to said casing. The sleeve 26 is adjustably mounted in said boss and is secured in the adjusted position by means of the set screw 28. The wire 25 may extend to any suitable or convenient place from.

which it may be manipulated to tilt the .reflecto from one position to the other.

I am not concerned inmy present application with the mechanism for tilting the reflector and this showing is merely illustrative of one method of tilting the reflector and any other method of swinging the reflector on its axis may be used without departing from the spirit of my invention, which has to do with the pivotal mounting of the reflecto within the casing.

From the description of "the parts given above, the operation of my device should be very readily understood. The parabolic reflectors, which are commonly used in automobile headlights, are made of very light gauge metal, which is comparatively flexible in the sheet form. The inner surface of'this reflector is highly polished and it is essential that the parabolic shape of the "reflector be maintained, as otherwise the rays of light reflectedfrom it will not travel in parallel lines inaccordance with the theory of the parabolic reflector.

On account of thelightness and flexibility of the metal used in making these reflectors, it is extremely difficult to preserve their parabolic form, unless means are provided fo maintaining the outer edge of the reflector as a true circle. In headlightsof the stationary reflector type this is usually accomplished by clamping the outer rim of the reflector between the headlight casing and the front ring holding the'l-ens, but where the reflector is mounted to tilt in the casing, this construction is impossible and some other means must be provided for maintaining the parabolic shape of the reflector.

In mypresent invention, I accomplish this by rolling the forward edge of the'reflector around a circular wire 18, thus 'formin a peripheral bead 19 reinforced by the wire 18 around the forward edge of the reflector. This construction not only serves to stiffen and reinforce the reflector so as to maintain its parabolic shape, but it also forms a very convenient and simple mounting for parts of the pivot for the reflector such as the trunn'ions, which comprise the pins 2O set into and secured to the bead 19 and the \Vll'G 18. An automobile headlight 1s sub ect to a great deal of vibration as the auton'iobile is driven over rough or uneven surfaces and it is absolutely essential, in order to provide a headlight construction that is commercially practicable, that the headlight should be so constructed that all rattle shall 'be eliminated. In order to further this end, I provide bearings for the reflector trunnions which are spring-mounted, the bushings 23 being mounted in the strips 22 of spring metal, the whole forming. one type of fleiible or resilient mounting for the reflector. This not only provides a mounting for the trunnion bearings, which will prevent any rattle thereof, but it also provides a very simple and convenient method for mounting or dismounting :the reflector, as the spring strips 22 may be sprung to one side against their spring tension so as to free the trunnion 20 from the bushing 23. h Ioreover, the springs 22 on opposite sides of the casing tend to yieldingly support the pivots for mounting the reflector therein.

Tam aware that the particular embodiment of my invention, which I have here shown and describedfis susceptible of considerable variation without departing from the spirit thereof and, therefore, ll desire to claim my invention broadly as wellas speciflcally, as indicated by the appended claims.

l-laving'thus described my :invention, what I claim as new andzdesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A device of the class described, comprisingthecombinationof a casing; a reflector; a wire bent to the form of a-circle and disposed at the forwardperiphery of said reflector, the forward edge of said reflector being bent around and embracing said wire to form a stiffeningbead; reflector trunnions set into andsecured to said wire and'stifiening bead; andbearings for said trunnionscarried by the casing.

2. Awdevice of the class described, comprising the combination of a casing; a reflector trunnions carried by said reflector and spring metal strips secured to said casing, each of said trunnions having'a bearing in the free end of one of said spring strips.

3. A device of the class described, comprising the combination of a ca-singy-a .re-

flector;v a pair of trunnions carried by said reflector at diametrically opposite points thereof; spring arms securedto said casing; and bearings for said trunnions carried by said arms and disposed at diametrically oppositepoints in said casing.

4. A device of the class described, comprising the combination of a casing; a reflector; a pair of trunnions carried by said reflector at diametrically opposite points; spring arms secured :to said casing and bushings carried by the freeends of'said arms in which said trunnions may be journaled.

A device of the classadescribed, comprising the combination of a casing; a re-' flector; a wire bent' to circular form and disposed adjacent the forward end of said reflector; said forward: edge being rolled around said wire, forming. astiffening bead; a pair of trunnions carried by=.-saidwire--at diametrically opposite points; and a pair of spring arms secured to said casing, and each provided with a bushing, in which one of said trunnions may be journaled.

6. A device of the class described, including in combination, a casing, a reflector, parts of pivoting devices carried by said reflector, spring means connected at one end to said casing, and co-a'cting parts of said pivoting devices located in the free end of said spring means.

7 A device of the class described, including a casing, a reflector, a wire bent to form a circle disposed at the forward periphery of said reflector, the forward edge of said reflector being bent around and embracing said wire to form a stiffening bead, parts of reflector pivoting devices set into and carried by said wire and stiffening bead, and co-acting parts of said pivoting devices carried by said casing.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing, a tiltable light reflector mounted in said casing, means for pivotally mounting said reflector in said casing, and resilient means to cushion lateral movement of said reflector relative to said casing.

9. In a device'of the class described, the combination of a casing, a tiltable light reflector mounted in said casing, a plurality of pivots for supporting said reflector and resilient means for yieldingly connectingi said pivots and said casing.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination of a supporting casing, a reflector therein, pivots for mounting said reflector in said casing and resilient members between said casing and said reflector for cushioning lateral movement of the latter.

In testimony whereof I afl'ix my signature.

TRUMAN W. POST. 

